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abysmal — abysmal, abyssal The currency of these two words is in inverse proportion to that of the parent words: abysmal, with its figurative meaning ‘very bad’ and a literal meaning relating to gorges, outer space, etc., is common, whereas abyssal is… … Modern English usage

Abysmal — A*bys mal, a. Pertaining to, or resembling, an abyss; bottomless; unending; profound. [1913 Webster] Geology gives one the same abysmal extent of time that astronomy does of space. Carlyle. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

abysmal — [[t]əbɪ̱zm(ə)l[/t]] ADJ GRADED If you describe a situation or the condition of something as abysmal, you think that it is very bad or poor in quality. Our abysmal record at producing scientifically trained and numerate manpower will cripple us … English dictionary